Island Rush (15 page)

I looked him over, not understanding Jill one bit. How did he need to change for her? Seeing him now, he was better now than before because he looked human. He looked and seemed free. 

“So with that, once you did that for her, you became a jerk?”

He thought about it and finally shook his head. “No, not exactly a jerk. Just a sad and angry dude, I guess. I am not sure why I was that way, but I feel I am getting myself back somehow.”

I wanted to scream that Jill made him that way and beat his personality and spirits down.  He was too blind by his love for that cruel bitch that he didn’t see it. She probably was a great girl for him, but she must have changed, and he thought it was right to go along with it. But I knew saying that would be pushing it. “So you’re getting yourself back now that you’re stranded on an island? I would have thought someone stranded, starving, and sick would go downhill even more.”

“I might be getting myself back, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go home. I miss her,” he whispered and moved his eyes back to his work. He continued with the stick as I narrowed my gaze at him.  I didn’t know how, but I knew he was lying. I wanted to tell him I saw it too.  Saw he doesn’t miss her as much as he claimed. I was better for him than her, but that was one thing I didn’t want to tell him.

We talked a bit more here and there as the day progressed.  It took a long time – much longer than it took to make the fire.  I demanded him to take a break and have me do it.  But oh no, he was the guy and was ‘almost done’ every time I asked.  Almost done felt like forever until it actually happened.

Mr. Rush stopped and examined the final product. At the end of the stick, the wood was lighter since he carved the bark away. It kind of looked like a pencil. A really sharp one that took a ton of work to do and took its toll on him.

He took a deep breath, laying back in the grass as the sweat from him spilled over it. It was the first time his palms were free of the rock and the stick.  He opened and closed his hands several times as he rested.  After a minute, he caught his breath.  Straightening back up, he stood and came to stand before me.

His eyes swept over me so fast, I barely saw him do it. Before I could press him on it, though, he might as well have read my mind.  He quickly said, “So, I guess we can go fishing now, huh?”

I studied his face and saw him cover something behind his words. My stomach answered on its own with a growl to his words, making us both laugh.  That was answer enough.

Chuckling, he said, “Take it easy. We still have a while to learn how to do this. It’s going to be hard trying to catch fish, but until we can, we will be okay.  I’m sure we will come across more coconut trees.  For water, well there is always our urine.”

I laughed and followed him to the beach. I walked into the water with him. He splashed the coolness over him as I did the same, sweat leaving and saltwater coating our skin. It was a wonderful feeling. Then came the hard part.

I insisted on trying first since his hands and arms couldn’t take much more for a little while.  I felt stupid too.  I didn’t know what I was doing or what I should do. We did agree though on how to start: stay as still as possible and wait for the fish.  That’s what I did.  Stood there, still and unmoving for the longest time while Mr. Rush sat in the shallow water a few yards away from me.

His lower body was hidden under the water. The rest of him regarded me with amusement towards my frustrated face as more time went by. My position wasn’t the best either. I was slightly hunched as I held the spear in both hands.  I held the tip of it above the water, waiting for any fish to come into my sight.  My back, which only slightly stung, started to get sore. I hadn’t taken off the belt around me for this.  Like I said, I was less caring about the fact that I was only in my bra.  But he seeing any more of my back would remind him and make him curious about my scars.

More time passed, and my mind kept going over his words from earlier. I was still shocked he would open up to me like that, especially since I still hadn’t done the same.  Honestly, I was starting to want to. 

Something snapped me out of my thoughts.  I became excited when the slight sound of water splashing reached me. It dropped at seeing Mr. Rush stand and start walking towards me. My eyes leaving the water, I noticed that it was getting dark already, probably thanks to us waking late. I scowled at him. “You probably just scared the fish away.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Right. I’m sure they were all over you, praying for that spear.”

I didn’t respond with any more than a sigh. I tried letting the spear go when I started handing it to him, but it was hard to uncurl my fingers. I managed to hand it to him and walk back up the shore, my back aching.

We made our way back through the trees and stopped in the tall grass. Collecting as many sticks as we could and dry nature, we piled it up where we had the fire last night.  Making a fire was going to be nice now that our fishing attempt was over. 

Mr. Rush sat down beside what would soon be a nice fire.  Taking a deep breath, he took the flint with the same stone we used last night that worked.  He pursed his lips as he started scratching the stones together fiercely.

Night drew in faster and so did the cold.  I sat down beside him and watched him carefully.  I just hoped that it would work again like it did for me, but it was tricky.  He knew that yesterday and he did now.  That might be why he put all his strength into hitting the rocks together now.  His breath came faster with nervousness as he kept trying, as quickly as he could too.  It made me feel bad because he was pushing himself more than he needed to. And recalling how I was able to light the thing last night… I spoke up and asked for it. 

“Come on, let me try,” I said, reaching out so he would give me the rocks.

He shook his head.  “No, I need to learn this.”

“Can’t you learn another time?  It’s already getting dark and cold.”

I didn’t wait for an answer. I was shivering and didn’t like seeing him try so hard. I took the rocks from him, but before I struck them together, I paused. The flint and the other rock I held were damp.  It made me eye Mr. Rush immediately. I had a good idea what it was but wouldn’t know until I could see.

I struck it over and over. Unlike him, I didn’t go crazy with it. It also didn’t take me thirty minutes to try and have nothing happen.  It did take a bit, though, and it seemed harder than last night.  Regardless, I smiled when I saw the spark after a few minutes. A few more after that ignited the fire.  Putting more dry brush and small sticks on… it grew and radiated wonderful heat… and light.

I tilted both rocks forward, towards the light. A dark liquid was spread over the rocks, and it made my stomach twist.  The second I saw that I turned my body towards Mr. Rush as I sat with my legs crossed.  I reached over and took both his hands in mine, making him sigh. He ended up turning his body towards me as he sat the same way, knowing there was no avoiding it especially when he heard my reaction to feeling his bloody hands.

“What is wrong with you?!” I hissed in worry as I stared up into his eyes. “You have been bleeding probably right from the start. You could have said so, and I would have helped. But no, of course not! You had to be the man.”

“I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, it isn’t that bad.”  As he said that, I ran my fingers in each of his hands over his skin. The cuts were identical in both palms. They stretched across his hands, and I could tell, it had to hurt.  My thumbs circled the cuts, hoping somehow it would heal him. I was looking down, tilting his hands towards the fire to get a better look when I glanced up and saw him an inch away from my face.

We were alone, stuck on an island and not going anywhere. Jill wasn’t here, and neither were the problems we left with our lives. We understood each other, and all I wanted was to understand his body. I wanted to kiss him right then but knew better.  He wanted someone else, and I wasn’t going to throw myself at a guy who didn’t like me back.

I don’t remember feeling my hands stop massaging his cuts; I figured it was when his breath shocked me. After many days, I was surprised it didn’t smell bad. It only felt warm. I stared at him for a minute too long to be normal, but he didn’t look away either. His big brown eyes shined with the flickering of fire dancing with that color. I wanted to look away but couldn’t. I felt his large hands squeeze mine where they rested. The heat in that contact and in his eyes could have been as hot as the pits of hell compared to the sticks burning in front of us.

I somehow was able to get myself together and look down to find our hands grasped together. That feeling came back to me, the one of pain I knew I would feel when his hands slip away from mine.  First, though, I forced myself to flip his hands back over, opening his hands in mine to reveal the cuts again. I leaned forward to examine his damaged palms closer. “You can wash them right now in the ocean or wait until dawn for the dew on the grass,” I said as neutrally as I could.

I stared at him again, waiting for an answer.  At first, he just gazed at me before saying anything.  “Um… I’ll wait until dawn.”

With that and a little bit of awkwardness, we went to sleep soon after that.

Chapter 12

When I woke, I wasn’t covered in sweat. I looked around and found ashes that had once been the burning wood. It was still dark, with just a hint of blue filtering through, signifying very early morning. I looked over to Mr. Rush, who was still sleeping, and crawled over the wet grass to him.

He was on his side, facing me in a peaceful sleep. His face was that of perfect smoothness, and it was nice to see him so relaxed and rested. His closed eyelids leading to those long lashes… it complimented him. All his features did. He might as well have lost his mind if he thought he wasn’t beautiful before he changed.

I planned on waking him, my hand already extended and resting on his shoulder. I paused, though and moved closer, crossing my legs. I let myself place a hand over his cheek, cupping the warm skin there.  My thumb ran up and down, slightly touching the curve of his lip. I knew I should not be doing this and especially now. I could not help it, knowing he was asleep. I also knew we had enough time before the sun rose.

I could see his features even more clearly being this close to him. While keeping my eyes on his closed ones for any sign of him waking, I slowly moved my hand up to his forehead.  I brushed his hair back as lightly as I could. His face didn’t move, and I turned daring, sliding my fingers through his hair and tucking it behind his ear.

When he suddenly shifted, I froze. I immediately started praying that he stay asleep. Thankfully, he stilled, and I could see he didn’t leave his deep sleep. The only thing that was different was that a small smile turned his lips up in his sleep. I was scared that if he moved again, he might actually wake up.  But I couldn’t let it end there, not yet. That’s why I allowed myself to slip down and next to him in the grass. I was on my side and facing him as he was me. Almost immediately, it made my heart pick up.

His slow, steady breath brushed in and out of his nose; the sound was music to me. His chest moved up and down slowly, and I gingerly ran my hand over to his shoulder. When I slid my hand down to his chest, I could feel the muscle under my touch and the beat of his warm heart. My fingers spread open, grazing the curly hairs on his chest.  And from there, I ran my hand down to the curve of his hip and left it there as I watched him. His face with that tired smile mesmerized me. I just wish I could help him…

He was so blind. Denial is not something many people can live without. No matter how much pain it delays and builds up, we as people love the shield it creates. I learned enough to know that it was good to avoid being sucked into its trap. I guess Mr. Rush did not because from what he told me, I knew Jill was a terrible person. Even he knew that but would not face it. It was denial, and I just hope that he will see past it.  He didn’t deserve to be wrapped up in someone like that.  He was too good for that.

I pulled my hand back and internally sighed, not wanting to think about him like that anymore. That would just be more pain for me, I reminded myself. Not to mention, at realizing what I was doing, I felt embarrassed and a little pathetic. 

I got to my knees and finally shook him awake.  He blinked a few times, his brown eyes finding me as he sat up.  He took a deep breath and instantly started looking around at his surroundings.  A slow smile crept across his lips, the ones my thumb brushed against, and he aimed it at me. 

“Thanks for waking me up,” he said with a yawn, that smile returning when he glanced down to the dew on the grass. “Oh man, this is going to feel good.”

He was right, and the back of my throat agreed.  I felt some shame knowing that I took the time to be creepy instead of licking up some dew. With how much I longed for water, I wasn’t sure how I managed that.

I let my body slip forward until I was lying on my stomach.  I buried my face in the grass, letting my mouth flow over the blades. Like before, it was torture while also bliss. It wasn’t enough, but enough to get us by. What made it better was that we had a lot of time before the sun rose to take the dew away.

Mr. Rush did as I did, drawing in as much of the dew as possible. We sucked on every blade we could until we couldn’t drink anymore. And my god… it felt almost as good as finishing off the rest of those coconuts. The burning and dry feeling in my mouth disappeared. I knew I would have to appreciate this.

We went at it for a long time to the point where we sucked all the water in that we could.  We kept going, taking our time and loving every moment of it.  We made it last until we could see the sky getting lighter.  It was a shame, knowing we would have to say goodbye to the dew for now.

However, as we continued sucking with the sky becoming lighter, an idea swept over me.  I jumped to my feet and shot a look to the sky where it started to get lighter with every minute.
Why couldn’t I have thought of this over an hour ago? It shouldn’t matter. I still had time. I can do it!
My positive thought sent me racing away from the tall grass and into a denser part of the woods where I hopefully could find a huge leaf. I found a bush that supported the giant leaves just as Mr. Rush got to me, looking at me as if I were crazy.

“What are you doing?” 

“Just listen. Suck as much water as you can right now into your mouth. Don’t swallow it, though, okay?”  I didn’t wait for a response as I ran back to the open area, dropping to the ground with the leaf. 

I started by pulling some of the longer and thicker strands of grass from the ground, planning to use the blades as a string.  After I had done that, I curled the leaf up into a cone.  Holding it firmly with one hand, my other was occupied with wrapping the grass around it so the cone would stay that shape with only one opening. That part took a bit longer for the fact that this was grass I was using.  But I did manage it surprisingly.  I tied it off, tightly yet slowly, and I was now holding what looked like a green waffle cone.

My eyes found Mr. Rush as he sucked on the grass with all he had, his cheeks slowly expanding with water.  Before I allowed my thoughts to take an inappropriate direction as I stared, I walked over to his side.  Kneeling next to where he was laying on his stomach, he continued taking more water in. His eyes flicked up to me when I spoke.

“Spit the water in here.” I held the leaf I transformed into a cone to him.  He gave me a look that called me ‘insane,’ but I persisted.  “We are running out of time.  Just do it,” I nodded and pushed him until he finally spits the water into the cone.  I felt relief – and surprise – to see that it actually worked and held the water. 

He gave me a curious look.  Before he had the chance to ask, I beat him to it and explained. “We have been going without water for too long. Why let the sun take it away when we might be able to save some?  We can start a supply.”

His features lit up, and he smiled brightly at me. “That is an awesome idea.”

I nodded and smiled, but was still nervous at the time. “Praise later. We can get more now before the sun gets too high.”

He understood the extent of which saving water like this could benefit us. Immediately after I spoke, he dipped his head back down and took in what he could.  I did the same, keeping the cone up in my hand so it wouldn’t spill. It took a while considering how little water the grass held.  Plus with each minute, the sun was getting higher in the sky.  Even still, we managed to do it.  Mr. Rush came up from sucking on the grass and spit it in our cup. I followed soon after, letting the water I took in flow out of my mouth and into the cone.

I saw the sun was getting even higher, peaking between the trees. We were able to get a little more before it was finally evaporated from the grass.  When I looked into the cone I made, I was surprised at just how much we were able to get. Sure, we could wake early every day and do this. What about throughout the day, though? This would be a huge help.

We sat there for a minute after the dew was gone.  I glanced down at myself and then over to the man next to me.  The only water remaining was all over our bodies, shining in the new sun. I admired the way it gleamed against his skin, lighting up his pretty eyes.  It reminded me of how much I wanted him.  So with that, I internally kicked myself.  I blame my period for such thoughts. I wondered what I would blame my feelings on after it was gone.

He smiled at me fondly. “How did you come up with something like that?”  He nodded to the leaf cone. 

I smiled with pride as my next words were true. “I just thought of it. I remembered how we needed to hurry with the sun coming up, and it clicked.”

He reached over and took the cup, looking it over. “You rolled up a leaf and somehow were able to tie it together. With just some damn grass too. God, you’re amazing,” he murmured under his breath.  It made my heart jump – big time.  I don’t think he meant for me to hear it.

He handed the cone back to me before we got up to head towards the beach. After all, though we agreed to take breaks and become more established, we still needed to continue walking. Finding that creek was still a priority.  But just as we grabbed the spear started moving to the trees lining the beach, I remembered something.

I stopped him, remembering his cuts. He looked at me with his brows hung low until I took his hands.  Looking them over and seeing they were clean of blood, I still noticed the cuts.  They could get infected.

I handed him the cone. “Hold this.” I turned back towards some of the very long grass, crouching down and filling my hands with the strands. I yanked the grass out, just like I did to tie the cone together. 

Noticing the grass was long enough when I stood and eyed his hands, I knew what we needed to do. I made Mr. Rush hold the cup with one hand as I took his other in mine. It was warm, and I had to force myself to hold back a moan at the touch. My eyes darted to his face to see if he felt what I just had: sparks at the contact we made. He was looking down at my hand in his, looking like he knew I was staring at him but not responding. I followed his gaze and cleared my mind of that nonsense.  Time to get this done. 

I started to twine the thick blades around his hand as my skin slightly brushed his. It wasn’t like earlier when I ran my hands over him in his sleep because now he was awake.  He was very aware of me.  All the other minor contacts we made before, including my skin against his when falling asleep or when he caught me after falling from the tree, were special in a way.  But they were not like this. This was being very aware of the burn between us, and the tension that was mounting.  I saw with a blush how the hair on my arms stood on end and hoped that he didn’t notice my reaction.

I focused on curling the long blades over the cut, wrapping the strands around his hand.  I covered the cut tightly until I had the ends of the grass hanging with no more slack. I intertwined them together instead of tying them, making sure to do it as tightly as I could. 

After he transferred the cone to the hand I just finished, I proceeded to repeat what I had done.  It didn’t take as long to wrap up this cut.  When I was finished, I tilted my head and looked up after letting his hand go.  His eyes immediately were on mine with a look I caught him wearing many times before.  It was that same fire in the eyes, except there was more to this gaze. This one said he understood me completely.

It told me that he saw the suffering I endured.  He saw the way I looked at life, saw the joy I felt at being away from home and saw the determination of getting back and finishing something even if he didn’t know what that was.  That’s what was special here.  He didn’t know the whole truth or what I was hiding from him, and still, he understood.

My breath hitched when his bandaged hand rose, slightly brushing my cheek with his fingers. Those brown eyes of his were intense.  Then, his gaze dropped away from mine, and his hand fell with it.  A blush rose over him. “Thank you,” he said with an edge to his voice.

All of this left me speechless. The dude called me amazing, then gave me a look I would kill to see again, and topped it off with brushing my cheek.  Now here I sit, astonished and waiting for my senses to return. Could he possibly like me? Like me in the way, he ‘likes’ Jill?

I answered myself right away.  He wasn’t the kind of guy who loved two women and was okay with it. But that look… I groaned under my breath, recalling my thoughts on how he was the one in denial. Could I be refusing to see that he cared for me more than I thought?  No, all this had to be a natural reaction to being away from Jill. After not seeing her for so long, he could be feeling the need to spread a bit of affection and have it not mean anything. That was what I settled with. That just because it seemed like it, it didn’t mean he wanted me like that. I needed to back my feelings down, or they would be hurting. 

Soon, we were back heading towards the beach, the tension still crackling between us. I carried the cone cup now and covered the top with a leaf.  I needed to be careful to not spill it.  He walked next to me, holding the spear as the flint and stone rested in his pocket.  The sound of the water crashing became louder until we saw the blue and stopped at the edge of the trees.  Turning to our left, we started walking in the same direction we have this whole time under the shade of the trees.

Silence followed us with the heat for a very long time, but the tension slowly vanished. I became occupied with thoughts not involving him. I thought over how we made it this far on an island, and it made me smile. I haven’t had much luck in my life, and some would think it would get worse being on an island.  My luck was running high considering many of the conditions here.